The fun of the last few days had finally come to a close, much to Ruth's disappointment. Raffo had to go back into his office the following morning, so after he fixed them up some breakfast and they took a hot shower to smooth out Ruth's sore muscles, they set back out to Jana's apartment where her cousins were waiting for her. Back to reality, she supposed. 

Raffo's thumb moved across her knuckles as he drove. They'd been stuck like glue with each other for the past week since the trip, that the thought of even going without each other for a day seemed less than appealing. It would be okay to get some distance during the day, but it wasn't something she wanted. After going so long without each other, she couldn't help but want to make up for all that lost time.

It also didn't help that Raffo looked absolutely gorgeous in his work attire. With his long sleeve button up molding to his torso, the cream sleeves stopping short on his forearms per usual, and his slacks outlining those toned thighs. Even his long hair highlighted his beauty; a sight that was so enchanting, she didn't want to part with it.

"Why the long face?" Raffo teased, drawing their clasped hands up to her face so he could stroke her cheek with the skim of his knuckles.

"I don't want to go back yet," she admitted, trying her best to hold in her pout. She shifted in her seat and winced, her body still sore from the last few days. Raffo really knew how to blow a bitch's back out. Not that she was complaining; her man was a whole ass personal porn star. But Porn Star Raff needed to give her a break.

"I know, but it'll just be for a little bit. If you want, I can pick you up after work and you can spend the night again. I don't mind dropping you back off tomorrow morning before work," he offered.

Ruth bit her lip. "Are you sure? I don't want to impo—"

"Semple, don't even finish that thought. You could never impose on me; I want you there."

Under the warmth of his words, she glowed brightly. She couldn't help it. "Well, if you're sure, then I can't argue with that."

"Good, because I am sure."

There was no lie detected in his voice, so she relaxed back into his seat. "Alright. We're all going to Uncle Rickey's for a bit, so if you don't mind picking me up there, that would be great. That way, he can formally meet you."

How odd that she never formally introduced them before, even if they'd probably run into each other at some point. But she wanted to do it anyway, because even if what they were doing wasn't going to last forever, it mattered to her in the now. And she missed living in the now.

"Okay," Raffo agreed, squeezing her hand. She could tell in the crinkle of his eyes how much that meant to him. "Maybe afterwards if you're comfortable . . . the girls would love to see you again."

Ruth beamed. She vaguely remembered Ava being alright towards her, but young Phoenix had been the one who had taken a liking to her. "I'd love to see them too."

When he finally pulled up in front of Jana's apartment, she unbuckled her seatbelt immediately and moved over the center console. He didn't even have time to prepare himself for the mind-blowing kiss Ruth landed on his lips as he dove a hand into her curls, pulling her impossibly closer. His tongue sensually wrapped around hers.

"Have a good day at work," she breathed, nudging back just a little to gaze lovingly into his eyes.

He smiled crookedly, his thumb moving to her cheek. "I will now. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, and he pecks her one more time on the lips. Then two more times. And finished it with number three when she started giggling. "No more kisses for you. Porn Star Raff will make his appearance and then you're never getting to work."

Raffo laughed, the sound husky and warm with amusement. "What? Porn Star Raff?"

"That's what I've been calling you in my head. You are way too skilled in the bedroom for your own good."

His seductive smirk illuminated his bright eyes that hungrily raked over her figure. "I wouldn't be talking, Porn star Ruth. If I remember correctly, you've had no trouble keeping up with me."

"Nuh uh, don't bring me into that. You did that standing position all on your own!"

"Would you believe me if I told you that was my first time trying it?" he asked cheekily, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. "And it definitely won't be our last."

Okay, she really needed to get her sore ass out of the car before he got them both in trouble.

He pouted when she moved back into her seat and gathered her few belongings. She made sure she had everything before climbing out of the car and lugging her suitcase behind her. Her walking wasn't necessarily the greatest at the moment, but she'd manage. That boy was going to be the death of her.

"I'll see you later. Be safe," he called through the rolled-down window.

"Drive safe baby. Say hi to Diana for me!" she called back with her petty ass.

He grinned wildly at his frivolous woman and she blew him a kiss. Despite everything that had happened, she could truly tell that he had missed her the last few years. He'd hold her extra close at night as if afraid she was one minute away from peeling away from him and flying back to New York, kiss her every chance he got, and treated her like an absolute princess. Ruth and Raffo were alive again and refused to go back to living half a life.

And it was all she wanted for the two of them.

He made sure to stay and laugh, as she waddled herself over to the door. "Fuck you!"

"You already did," he called back. "And I plan on you doing it again tonight!"

Someone in the apartment building choked, another one laughed, and Jana's college-aged neighbor whooped out an, "OOP" at her car.

"Nope! It's abstinence for you now, buddy! Should have thought about that before last night."

A random dude yelled out a, "DAMN."

"We'll see about that!" Raffo promised, winking at her one more time before driving off.

That cheeky bastard. She hated the idea of a chastity belt, but with the way homeboy kept trying greedily getting his Ruth fill in, she needed to consider it. She wanted to at least have a few days of healing in before going for another round.

Shaking her head, she wrapped a hand around the doorknob and nudged it open, knowing the girls were already there. The sore leg she stood on last night nearly collapsed for no damn reason as she pushed the door open with her hip. Lugging in her suitcase behind her, she barely closed the door before making eye contact with her favorite girls in the entire world.

"Damn, Ruth. We heard you spilling all types of tea down the block," Jana teased, wrapping her cousin up in a hug. Ruth's cheeks burned.

"Sorry. Let's just say Raffo's been eager to get reacquainted."

"Ooooo you nasty bitch," Jana winked. "I need ALL the tea."

"But first," Terry interjected, cutting Jana off with a look. "We have a lot to catch up on. How are you? I know Raffo probably told you everything."

Ruth nodded. "He did. I know he told you guys he'd tell me when he was ready too so I'm not angry with y'all either."

Both of them breathed out a sigh of relief. "We were livid when we found out," Jana admitted. "And I almost fought Raffo until he agreed to tell you, but Eddie made me stay in my place."

"Same with Johnny," Terry agreed. "I'm sorry that happened to you guys."

"Me too. I almost beat Raffo's ass a few times before he and Eddie told me the truth. Almost broke us up, actually."

Ruth's eyebrows nearly kissed her hairline. "Really? Why?" she asked, intrigued by the news.

"Because I found out he was still hanging around your no good ex, that's why! Raffo had no point but to tell me what really happened then. I think Terry found out a few days later."

Ruth's face softened, and she took Jana into her arms. "Aww Jay, you almost broke up with your fiancé for me?"

Jana hugged her back. "Bitch, I'd kill Raffo and Eddie for you. Fiancé or not."

Terry hugged Ruth too after feeling left out. The girls grabbed the plate of donuts they had bought and took a seat on the floor in a triangle formation. She caught them up on the Emily scandal and the words exchanged, then touched on her and Raffo's make-up dates and sex, much to her embarrassment but their amusement, and ended with him meeting Uncle Rickey. They were even impressed by Raffo doing most of the cooking for the two of them.

Once everything was out in the open, Jana was the first to ask questions. She tilted her head curiously, her eyebrows squished together in thought. "Are you guys . . . a thing again?" she asked, hesitantly as if unsure of how Ruth would take her question.

Ruth only shrugged. "I don't really know. I mean, it feels like it? But I just broke up with Emily not too long ago and I don't want it to seem like I'm rushing things just because we dated once and still like each other. Plus, we haven't really talked about a title or anything like that at all. Right now I think we're just—I don't know, getting to know each other again?"

"That's fair," Terry agreed. "What are you gonna do about New York? Are you going back?"

The dreaded question Ruth still didn't know the answer to.

"I dont know the answer to that one either. There's no place for me to really go back to. I mean, I have money saved up, but . . . I don't know where I go from here," she admitted, biting her lip. She couldn't really think of a way to explain it to them without sounding dramatic.

New York almost seemed tainted to her now; born out of a lie that changed her life's course. And though they could understand that, she knew they'd never understand how deep that betrayal ran. It was unfathomable and Ruth still had a hard time wrapping her head around it. Could she really stay in New York knowing what she knew then? Working with Emily at the same hospital just on separate floors?

The thought alone made her stomach turn.

Terry took her hand in hers. "It's okay. That's what we're all here for. Me, Jana, Raffo, Uncle Rickey, we've all got your back. You don't have to know the answers to everything yet. You still got a few weeks, right? Until after the wedding?"

"That's enough time to think things through," Jana added. "Maybe apply to other jobs and apartments in New York just in case, but consider a few places out here as well if you don't want to go back? That way you keep your options open and whatever happens, happens. If you go back and that's what's best for you, we'd all support you 110%. And if you get offers out here, just know Oklahoma would love to have Ruth Semple back on Indigenous soil."

Appreciative tears sprung to Ruth's stinging eyes, and she squeezed both of their hands in hers. "I really missed you guys."

"We missed you too, boo. Tell Raffo to ease up on you so we can see you more," Jana complained, though the sly wink told them she was kidding.

"I don't think we have to worry about that. I told him we're gonna be abstinent for a few days," Ruth chirped and all three of them giggled together.

*****